The Kennett Blue Rocks, a local baseball club based in Kennett Square, won the American Division 52 and over age bracket championship in the 2014 annual Men’s Senior Baseball League “Fall Classic” held in Clearwater and Dunedin, Florida. This is the third tournament championship for a Kennett based Men’s Senior Baseball League team (Kennett won the 38 and over age bracket title in 1998 and the 45 and over age bracket championship in 2009).
Members of the Kennett blue Rocks celebrate their championship — and the tournament trophy — after winning the 2014 Mens Senior Baseball League Fall Classic in Dunedin, Fla.
It is a true accomplishment for our local club as the tournament draws many teams and is an international event! The tournament is held every November and is played at the spring training sites of professional baseball clubs, this year the tournament returned to the Clearwater area and was played at the Phillies and Blue Jays spring trainings sites. Each team plays a round robin of five games to qualify for the playoff round which is single elimination, winners advance to the championship game in various age brackets.
The Blue Rocks tournament play began on Monday, Nov. 3 against the Indiana Dodgers at Carpenter Complex, spring training home of the Phillies. Gary Prugh took the hill for the Rocks and pitched well into the seventh inning before being relieved by Bob Parks. The Rocks won the game 12 to 6 thanks to key hitting efforts by Dusty Eldredge, Paddy Miller, Jack Bradley, Kevin Sprague and Dan Ward.
On Tuesday the Blue Rocks got to play in Bright House Stadium, the Phillies spring training home field against the Dallas Rangers. Dusty Eldredge took the mound for Kennett and locked into a pitcher’s duel for 6 innings trailing by a count of 1 to 0. Things got sloppy in the seventh however as the Rocks fielding efforts faltered and Dallas took a 7 to 0 lead. Bob Parks and Paddy Miller finished up on the hill for Kennett but the locals fell by a 9 to 0 score.
On Wednesday, Nov. 5, Kennett played a doubleheader. First up at 10 am was a game back at Carpenter Complex against the Andreas Islanders, from Long Island, New York. Charlie Christolini took the hill for Kennett and the crafty lefthander threw six strong innings as he exited the game with the lead. Bob Parks threw the last three innings for Kennett and held the lead as the Rocks won 9 to 2. Key hits were delivered by Mark Grandizio, Gerry Green, Paddy Miller, Dan Ward, Glenn Davis, Larry Lark and Gary Prugh.
In the second game on Wednesday the Rocks faced the New Jersey Reds. Steve Potter made the start for Kennett and was relieved by John Peet in the third inning. The Reds defeated the Blue Rocks by a count of 13 to 5.
Game 5 of the round robin was on Thursday, November 6th against the Triad Royals. Charlie Christolini again took the hill and pitched into the second inning before being relieved by Bob Parks who finished the game. The Blue Rocks won by a count of 18 to 6 as everyone in the lineup got hits. Paddy Miller and Kevin Sprague had four hit games each and Mark Grandizio, Ron Hineman, Glen Davis, Jack Bradley and Gerry Green also had big offensive games.
The playoff round started on Friday and the Blue Rocks drew the Potomac River Bandits in the quarter final game. Tim Barnes took the hill for Kennett and pitched into the ninth inning before being relieved by Glen Davis who closed the game. Kennett won by a count of 9 to 5. Key hits were delivered by Dusty Eldredge, Mark Grandizio, Kevin Sprague and Glen Davis.
The semifinal game was against the DC Express as Gary Prugh took the hill once again for Kennett. Prugh pitched a complete game in a great effort as Kennett prevailed 4 to 2 in victory. Key offensive performances were turned in by Mark Grandizio, Gerry Green, Ron Hineman and Larry Lark.
The championship game was held on Saturday, November 8th at Florida Auto Exchange stadium, spring training home of the Toronto Blue Jays. The opponent was the New Jersey Reds but unlike the Wednesday match between the two teams Kennett rode the outstanding mound performance of Dusty Eldredge as he threw a complete game shutout to lead the Blue Rocks to a 6 to 0 win and the American Division Championship! Gerry Green was again an offensive standout and Larry Lark delivered a key two run RBI hit in the contest. Mark Grandizio, Paddy Miller, Glen Davis and Jack Bradley also had big offensive efforts.
Glen Davis was named the team MVP for the tournament as he was outstanding at shortstop all week for Kennett, Davis earned the nickname “Hoover” from all who watched him play as any ball hit his way was scooped up and disposed of as an out. Davis also had an outstanding offensive tournament and was well deserving of the MVP trophy.
The Kennett roster consisted of Player Manager Mark Grandizio, Ron Hineman (also team General Manager), Gerry Green, Dan Ward, Glen Davis, Kevin Sprague, Larry Lark, Jack Bradley, Paddy Miller, Dave Hissey, John Peet, Gary Entrekin, Gary Prugh, Dusty Eldredge, Charlie Christolini, Bob Parks, Tim Barnes and Steve Potter. Susan Lark served the entire week as the team scorekeeper.
The tournament was dedicated by the team to Tim Barnes dad Ed who was at home battling some health issues, the championship trophy will be delivered by Tim to his dad as Mr. Barnes is a key member of the Kennett Blue Rocks and the team won the title in his honor.
Earl “Rusty” Jones was also honored in memoriam during the tournament as Steve Potter wore his number 19, Rusty passed away a week before the tournament started, he participated in many tournaments as part of the Kennett club and the championship was also won in his memory.
Many of the Blue Rock team members are already honored as inductees to the Kennett Old-timer’s Baseball Hall of Fame, this year on January 17th 2015 four more will be enshrined ( Mark Grandizio, Gerry Green, Dave Levan and Paddy Miller). Tickets for the event can be purchased at Burton’s Barber Shop in Kennett Square or by calling 610- 444- 9964. Ex Phillie second baseman Micky Morandini will be the guest speaker at the event. Others being inducted this year are John Kochmanski, Paul Sergi, Jeff Greene and Doug Stirling.
The Blue Rocks club plays in the Tri State Men’s Senior Baseball League during the summers and won their second consecutive league championship this past summer, many of the team members have been playing baseball together for 25 years or more dating back the Kennett Men’s Senior Baseball League started by Steve Potter in 1989 and even prior to that. The team plays quality baseball and is a team in every definition of the meaning kept intact by outstanding manager Mark Grandizio, Grandizio has managed in 13 fall classic tournaments, been to the championship game 6 times in various brackets and has now won 2 tournament championship titles! Kennett baseball is well displayed by the Blue Rocks!
